Pain.

 Thursday was one of the most incredible days ever as well as the hardest day of my mission. We had a beautiful Zone Conference full of spirit, testimonies, and council. After Zone Conference we went to one of our friend's homes. I have been dreading this lesson for over a week- this friend was put on date for baptism before we knew she was on house arrest. We found out she was on house arrest at the end of a lesson and now we had to go over and explain that she actually cannot be baptized until after she finishes her house arrest. I love this friend so much! I knew it was gonna crush her. We pull up and meet with the sisters who have been teaching her with us, go in and sit down and start with love. Then all the missionaries look at me- it's time to drop the news. So with all the love I have and with all the softness I can, I tell her that we all will need to wait for her to be baptized until she concludes her house arrest. she starts crying and starts kinda closing off. I felt awful. I felt like I was denying her the one thing she truly wanted. I felt my heart drop and dark anxious pain feelings in my chest. I took all I had to not join her tears. The sisters hopped in and talked about how “waiting” can become a sacred place. Then I was filled with spirit and I knew what to do. I instructed her to listen carefully to what I was going to say. The most powerful testimony of Gods love and restoration of Priesthood power I’ve ever given then proceeded to fall from my mouth followed by an invitation to receive a priesthood blessing. She said yes, had us guess what number was behind her back cuz she didnt wanna “pick favorites” 

this was actually a miracle because without any hesitation at all I guessed 7.

Her number was 7.

So I gave her a blessing and my mind was crystal clear. I have never ever had words come to me this easily before. it felt like I was reading the words. no eye in the room was dry. 

I was trying to make burgers and instead I cut a chunk out of my thumb. Fortunately, I am a man of great poise. So, as blood is being pumped out and making a concerningly large puddle of blood in the sink, annoyed at this inconvenience, I rinse my thumb off and as soon as I take it out of the stream of water- you instantly cannot tell I just rinsed it off. Blood everywhere. So with a roll of my eyes I suffocate it with paper towels. Despite the pain I apply as much pressure as I can and hold my hand as high up as I can. Somehow, for the first time ever- I left my phone in the car?!?! so I knock on the bathroom door, “Elder LaBar, I need you to run out to the car with me, I just cut my finger open and I need to call the nurse” 

With more panic than I had, he opened the door and we went to the car.

The nurse wanted a picture- we couldn't get one because the blood just kept gurgling out lol. So she decided to have me just apply pressure lol.

Bleeding stopped about 20 hours later.

So the next 3 days actually sucked. I felt like I was missing a piece of me (lol) no, but actually- I felt like garbage and was always light headed and my thumb felt like it was on fire. What a dumb injury lol. All for some dang patties.

Went on exchange with Elder Palmer and we went full-beast mode. Talked to a ton of indians! Every time we saw an Indian I would call which city they were from and then we'd ask and I was right each time. I blew Elder Palmer away with that trick, I guess I'm just good at being racist with indians- but in a good way. The surprise on their faces when I speak hindi will never ever get old. 

One Indian man (from Delhi) answered the door and was like “is this urgent?” and I was like “Ya, it actually is” he let us teach him a bit. I felt pretty cool saying that lol. It's so fun to just go out and have a blast being a bold missionary who is just not scared of anyone or anything. 

I know that this IS urgent. The gospel of Jesus Christ is something to be urgent about. Now is the time to act. Now is the time. Don't wait. 

Cool verse:

Psalm 29: 2 “...worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” 

There's only gonna be a few more of these. . .

Love you all very much, especially you.

If I wasn't endowed I'd be dead.

 

We helped at yet another move lol. After we got everything into the truck we headed to a storage place and I was taking a giant mirror out of there. I was gonna put it to the side so we could get the big stuff out. Then a big blast of wind came around the corner and I hit the bottom of the mirror on the ground-oof. The mirror shattered and a shard of glass went right to my leg, it tore a hole in my pants and I felt it against my leg. I was sure this was gonna be pretty bad and there’d be blood. But I look down and there's nothing. . .

You wanna know why? My garments. The glass had been stopped by my garments. my pants were destroyed lol-But everything under the garments was fine. So we threw away the glass and proceeded with the move.

We started exchanges with the Chinese Elders. We ended up starting really late- which was actually divine because as we head out to the car, we see a ton of Indians all walking together. Prolly in their 20s. So I just shouted to them “मेरा यार क्या चल रहा है?!”(my dude what's up?) They stopped walking and stared at us so baffled and confused. And one of them is like “you speak hindi..?” and so I say “हाँ जी क्या आप हिन्दी बोलना है?” (yes sir, do you speak hindi?”) All the guys with him are laughing and can't believe there's a white teenager, dressed up in church clothes standing next to a Taiwanese guy in pajamas. The next thing the indian in front says is “what's your number i wanna be your friend!” then Elder Tien pulls out my hindi flashcards from my pocket and shows them my plan of salvation hindi phrases. It was insane. we got home at like 11:30 though… 

I made banana bread.

My trainer, Luke Prestwich, came and visited me. Man it was incredible to see him again. 

My ASL trainers, Hyatt White and Shepard Rigby, also came and saw me- super amazing. These 3 elders have impacted me so much and taught me everything. The mission is so divine! Now that I am training, again, It was eye-opening to see how much I love and respect my trainers and it's like…am I being a good-enough trainer? Will Elder LaBar feel this way about me? How can I make the rest of our time together sacred and significant for him? I hope I'm doing a good job. 

Yesterday we were on our way to our car when outta nowhere a car with 3 teenage girls pulled up. We’re already at the car and I’m told in my mind “I timed this just right for you to go speak to them. they need to hear your testimony” so I look to Elder LaBar who was already tryna get in the car and i'm like “hey, lets go talk to them real quick” I came over to the chick driving and motioned for her to roll the window down. She waves implying “no” and for 1 second I wanna accept it and just go to the next place, get outta the sun and get in the car. But, come on! I know better- so I wave again and the window comes down. I introduced us and saw that 2 of the girls were indian. All the sudden they all open up and keep saying “i have one more question” we answer it, testify, then they ask again “i have one more question” it was like a dream come true. I wish everybody would just ask us questions. lol We talked a ton about the Book of Mormon and prophets, the Word of Wisdom, Polygamy, missionary work. I also got to speak hindi with them and show off. There's not very many things I love more than speaking hindi. They also wanted to know what the best thing that's happened to me during the past 23 months was and so I shared the story of Pugal. It was crazy powerful and for the first time, all 3 of them were silent after that story. I wish we could have kept talking but then somebody's mom comes out and calls them inside. She gave us an interesting look lol. But I know that the spirit will make sure they remember us. They will remember the spirit that was there and according to God's plan they will meet with missionaries again and they’re gonna get baptized for sure. 

I love being a missionary in the California Bay Area. There is nowhere else in the world like this. I love doing God's work. I love the Book of Mormon. I love driving here. I love Indian food. I love American Sign Language. I love my YSA ward. I love Hindi. I love the missionaries I serve with. I love my mission leaders. I love this church so much. You already know I will never ever step away. Imma serve God for the rest of my life.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DYM8hzqfMfgxUFWZ7

Despite the crap, this is the best

 I love my mission President. I've been having many concerns and questions recently and during interviews I was finally able to dump them all on President Larson. I came out with more answers than questions I went in with. I cried a lot. President gave me a blessing and told me several times how amazing I am. God trusts me. He has given me a greenie! I still can't believe He trusted me to train this Elder.

One completely unrelated pet peeve that's been popping up a lot recently is when people comment on me having the gift of tongues. I don't think I've been blessed with that gift. ASL and Hindi were both insanely difficult for me. I don't have words or phrases that come to mind. I don't find it miraculously easy to use my languages when teaching. I was blessed with companions who supported me (sometimes more than I wanted) in learning these languages. I was blessed with diligence and the ability to study. But most of all I was blessed with Love for all those who were relying on me to learn their language so they can receive ordinances. 

Learning hindi did not just happen. It was not easy at all. It's been an active struggle for over a year and I still don't know what to say lol.

I feel like people completely miss the value and true story of what hindi means to me when they think “oh, he must have the gift of languages” I have fought, and completely exhausted myself, and cried to learn how to speak this language all in hopes that 1 indian family will be able to accept the Truth and be sealed in the Oakland temple. That image helps me to keep going. 

I know God is helping me of course, but he still makes it just about as difficult as it could be lol.

We helped with a miserable move this week. All I would like to mention is that there was an actual turd on a bed we moved and it unfortunately smeared all over the place.

I promise every person reading this that my future home will not have poop laying around. In fact, my home will be clean. I don't care what it takes- my house will be clean. My wife and I will always have a nice, clean organized home.

Fotos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DYM8hzqfMfgxUFWZ7

Now this week wasn't all crappy (lol) we also were able to visit Fremont for the baptism of Haripriya, a Deaf Indian whom I was able to teach a ton. Before the baptism, we went to the Gurdwara with the hindi elders and got some incredible free indian food. My head scarf fell off and some precious amazing Indian woman came up and offered to help and retied it perfectly- I looked like an actual sikh. 

Then the baptism. Wow. I love every single person in the ASL branch so much and my heart was full as I was able to sign with all of them again and catch up. The baptism was beautiful and full of the spirit. My friend Pugal (the almost 1-yr convert with the amazing video on fb) came to the ASL baptism just so he could see me. Before the meeting he whispered to me “Elder Owens…..I am receiving the melchizedek priesthood tomorrow” I hugged him and told him how awesome that really is. Then I remembered my first time meeting him at church, then I remembered his baptism. He's come so insanely far. I could not hold back tears lol. I just looked at this incredible Indian man and saw him as a son of God full of sincere desire to serve the Lord and cried. 

There is nothing like this. There is nothing as precious as seeing people's lives change. God changed these people and trusted me to be a part of it! 

I cannot believe it's been 23 months.

Love you all!

Am I dreaming?

 Every morning I wake up with 2 Spanish Zone leaders on one side and over on the other side is a fresh new greenie called Elder LaBar. 

It's pretty good. 

As I take the child out contacting and teaching it's amazing to see how he approaches people and what he ends up saying. I am fully aware he's trying his best and that he's brand new- but it's still pretty….different. The amazing thing is- it works. And it's because the spirit is with us. 

Turns out the principles and practice and theory and concepts behind “missionary-work” aren't as important as I thought.

Knowing good scriptures to share and stories from the Bible and church history aren't as important as I thought 

Knowing how to ”down-tone,” make eye-contact, and use body languages aren’t as important as I thought.

Knowing the language and being able to speak with eloquence aren't as important as I thought either.

Turns out it's all about having the spirit with you in such abundance that those around you can experience the spirit as you speak is way way important. 

Of course plenty of people still cuss at us and slam and lock their doors and tell us how dumb we are and to “not drink the kool-aid”

But I don't care at all. It doesn't offend me. It makes me sad that they are so confused and rude- but nothing anybody does will ever shake me from doing what I know is right.

Pics:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DYM8hzqfMfgxUFWZ7

Before picking up Elder LaBar I was able to serve 1 day with Elder Bishop. He doesn't like hugs which is too bad cause I really loved serving with him a ton. We had so much fun! Learned some tagalog from him and talked about our missions. We're both going home super soon. 

Then we picked up our trainees. Craziness. The English elders were an Elder Singh and Elder LaBar. Everybody with any common sense was sure I would get Elder Singh as his parents are hindi-speaking indians. Makes a lot of sense- so it also makes sense why i was suprised and a little disappointed when I didn't receive Elder Singh.

I figured it out a few nights ago tho 

If i got Elder Singh we would have had +1 hindi elders

But because I got Elder LaBar now he will learn hindi. Elder Singh was already set on learning Hindi as soon as I introduced myself. 

So now we get +2 hindi elders instead.

I've been in some strange mind places recently. I still feel out of place In this area after being in Fremont for a year and a half. It's weird being a senior comp/TRAINER In an area I don't even know how to get to the church or our apartment in. Every day going home becomes more and more real- which is super weird. I feel stressed a lot and I'm not able to find out why so then I just kinda feel frustration inside. I want to do hindi work. I want to do ASL work. Instead I'm trying to find interested people In a english area- instead I find not interested people lol.

It's not actually THAT bad lol. We invited 3 people to be baptized this week. 2 said yes. 1. Was an Indian I had just met and he said he'd think about it.

I'm trying to be a good example for Elder LaBar luckily that means I pretty much stay the same. 

Sorry. That's all I got this week. I'll try and be feeling better when I write next week lol.